But on Oct. 1, Tackett received an email marked “High” importance from Nick Fuller, an FBI special agent in the Wilmington office who investigates white-collar crime.
Fuller wrote that the complaint to Jennings’ office “indicates that a copy of the recording is available upon request. I am requesting a copy of that recording. Please also let me know the preferred method for providing the recording, and I can accommodate whatever is most convenient.”
Tackett emailed Jester about a week later that Fuller wanted the recording, and at 12:39 a.m. on Oct. 8, Jester sent the FBI agent a message with the audio file attached.
Fuller did not respond to a request to discuss his inquiry and the scope of the probe.
U.S. Attorney for Delaware Benjamin Wallace, whose office prosecutes federal crimes in the state, said that per U.S. Department of Justice policy, he “could not confirm the existence of an investigation.”
U.S. Attorney for Delaware Benjamin Wallace said he could not confirm an investigation, per department policy. (U.S. Attorney’s Office)
Asked about the FBI’s involvement, Jennings’ office would not comment.
Kozikowski did not return requests for comment regarding the FBI’s involvement or to say if he had been contacted by federal authorities.
During an interview in September, Kozikowski told WHYY News he didn’t see any problem with his offer because Tackett had not yet officially filed his candidacy.
“He still had that choice,” Kozikowski said about Tackett. “He could think about taking the position, OK? Or if he decided to run against me, he could file. And that’s what he decided to do. I’m not worried about it at all because I know that he is not a candidate until he files.”
Tackett has not heard from the office of Attorney General Kathy Jennings but on Oct. 1 the FBI came calling. (WHYY file)
Tackett said he ‘doesn’t have a clue’ about status of FBI probe
Jester, who works for JP Morgan Chase, said he could not comment on the FBI’s interest in the matter.
Jester previously called Kozikowski’s job offer to entice Tackett not to run “the kind of crap you see in true crime dramas and on ‘The Sopranos.’”
Tackett said he’s gratified that law enforcement is looking into Kozikowski’s offer, which he earlier told WHYY News “could be considered a bribe” and spurred the written complaint to Jennings’ office.
Neither Fuller nor other FBI agents have called him or followed up with requests for more information or to interview him or Jester, Tackett said.
Tackett, who plans to step down from his council seat to become New Castle County’s recorder of deeds in January, said he’s prepared to cooperate fully but remains in the dark about the status and extent of the probe.
“I don’t have a clue” about what investigators are doing, Tackett said. “I don’t know how the laws work or what they’re looking for or anything” except that Fuller wanted the audio file and Jester provided it.
“They can review it and decide if they have any foundation to pursue that further,” Tackett said. “All we can do at this point is just hang tight, move forward and it’s up to them, whatever they decide to do.”